Rodgers also reveals he talked to Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins about returning to his former club and having FIVE job offers since his departure from Anfield.

He also discusses Northern Ireland’s chances at Euro 2016 and how the break from football will give him new energy to take a job next season.

Here is the full interview in Q&A form courtesy of beIN Sports.

On Jurgen Klopp

Past and present: Rodgers and Klopp meet before last season (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty)

How different does the Liverpool side look now under Jurgen Klopp compared to the one you left?

“Well it doesn't really matter. Obviously Jurgen has been brought in. I had a wonderful time at Liverpool. My three and a half years there was a great experience.

"I had the chance to work with some outstanding players and people. The club decided to make the change and I will always respect that. With all the changes in the summer I would have liked to have worked that little bit longer with the players.

"It was always going to take them time to adapt and you are probably seeing that with Jurgen at the moment. He is still finding out about the players, but quite a few of them are new players and it will take time to adapt.

"I am sure over time Liverpool will look to kick on and get back to where they were a couple of years ago.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Is it true when Jurgen joined you invited him around to your house and discussed taking the club forwards?

“No, it wasn't quite that. He was obviously at my home. We had a chat about a number of things.

"Liverpool was a part of it, but we spoke mostly about football and life in general. Maybe how it was portrayed and presented, media wise, it seemed that way, but we just had a chat about football.

"Of course he was coming into Liverpool and I just told him what a great club it was.”

Both you and Jurgen have clearly got a great amount of respect for Liverpool's culture and history...

“Yes, of course it was one of the big reasons I joined the football club. The history, going back to the late sixties, seventies and eighties, when Liverpool really was the most dominant force in English football.

"It's a different club now, the supporters are fantastic, but the club itself is totally different. There isn't that dominance anymore, but it is still a wonderful football club that is highly thought of around the world.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

What is Klopp like? He arrived calling himself 'the normal one'. Is that fair?

“It seems so, but I don't know him that well. We played Borussia Dortmund in a friendly game when I met him briefly, and I had that brief meeting [when he first joined], but I don't know him so well.”

Where do you feel Liverpool will finish this season and what did you make of the 2-0 loss to Leicester?

"It was a close game and it was maybe always going to take a bit of magic in the game for a goal to go in. It was an outstanding goal by Jamie Vardy, a wonderful strike, and that will give them confidence.

"There's a long way to go, 14 games left in the season and both Leicester and Liverpool will be looking to bring their best form into the end of the season.”

Do you fancy Liverpool for a top-four finish?

“It is hard to say. I think that was the expectation at the beginning [of the season]. They will be a little bit disappointed in terms of where they are at in this moment, but if they can get a run together then it is a possibility, but of course there are other teams above them playing well.”

On Leicester City

And how far can Leicester City's fairy tale go? Are we right to be comparing their run to what Brian Clough did at Derby and Forest?

"Firstly, their intention will be to qualify for the Champions League. When you are at the top, and inside a top four position, you are really looking to first get a guaranteed finish inside the top three, then you go into the group stage of the Champions League.

"That would be an incredible achievement when you consider where the club was at over a year ago. For them to then go on and win the league, I think it would be the greatest achievement in the history of the Premier League.”

Roy Hodgson watched Vardy's wonderstrike. Should he go to and even start at Euro 2016?

“What he has proven is that he is one of the top English strikers in the league. He has carried his form from the second half of last season into this one. He will be very hard to ignore.

"He is a player with searing pace and if you don't have Daniel Sturridge for the squad Roy will be looking very closely at him. He can finish, he has shown that already. He has lightening pace. If he doesn't start, he is certainly a player Roy can turn to off the bench.”

On Daniel Sturridge

What about Sturridge? Are Vardy, Rooney and Kane all ahead of him in the England pecking order right now?

"No, if Daniel Sturridge is fit he is a player you would seriously look to take. He has genuine world class ability. When fit, there's not too many better than him.

"There's different types of strikers: Harry Kane is a wonderful finisher, Jamie Vardy has great pace and has come onto the scene exceptionally well and is playing consistently and Wayne Rooney is a player I have admired during all of his career.

"He is a big-game player and his experience will be vital, but it is hard to rule out Daniel because he offers so much. He can score a goal in a flash and has got all the attributes.”

What did you do to get the best out of Sturridge and what do Klopp and Hodgson have to do to follow suit?

“First of all, Daniel is a real good guy. He obviously wants to play: of course when you have that ability you want to train and play. It just seems that he has been very, very unfortunate.

"All I ever tried to do was encourage him and take the pressure off. He is a real good guy: you can talk to him and communication can be open. He wants to receive information and to talk with the manager as well, but he is just in this run of injuries. He has been so unfortunate.

"He played for me for 18 months and, along with Luis Suarez, was right up there. I had two of the best strikers in the world. From that summer, when we finished runners up and got into the Champions League, he has just been marred by injuries. I am sure it is so frustrating for Daniel.

"It is frustrating knowing him well to see him not being able to play. Certainly, from my time at Liverpool, if he was out I really missed him and so did the team. When you have a player of that quality of course it will affect your results.”

Daniel Sturridge - 2015/16

5

Starts

3

Sub appearances

Correct as of 24/2/16

Is Liverpool the best club for him or might a fresh club help him get back to form and fitness?

“Listen, he is at Liverpool at this very moment and he has signed there on a contract so I don't think there's any debate for him. He just needs to get fit.

"You can have a fresh start but if you are not fit it doesn't really matter. He is at an outstanding football club, one that adores his talent. If he can get himself fit, the support at Liverpool is as good as anywhere in the world and what they love is a striker who can score goals.

"They have had that throughout their history, so if Daniel can get back and score goals, which he is well capable of doing, then I am sure he will be adored again.”

Does Daniel need to toughen up? If you look at Jamie Vardy, he plays through pain. Is Sturridge too quick to rule himself out of games due to more minor injuries?

“Every person who deals with a certain individual will have a different perception. I can only talk about my time with Daniel.

"He was an outstanding player for me when he was fit and he has been unfortunate [with injuries] and has traveled the world to try and get fit: let's hope he can.”

On time at Liverpool

Let's discuss your time at Liverpool. Talk us through 2013-2014 when you nearly won the Premier League. You won manager of the year, but given the last few games, and the Chelsea loss in particular, do you look back on that period with fondness or regret?

“A little bit of both really. I think it is one where we went so close, and our confidence was so high in the second part of the season. We still approached every game with caution, but with the confidence to win.

"We were on a great run of 11 [consecutive] wins towards the end of the season. To go 14 games would have been incredible. We entered into the last thee games of the season knowing that we needed two wins and a draw. Anfield was a good place for us.

"We had improved our home record and in that season we had won sixteen games, drawn two and only lost one, and that was the Chelsea match. I think that game was really, really unfortunate. The players and coaching staff did everything they could.

"Of course, in hindsight, people will ask whether I should have approached the game differently, but I wouldn't, no. We approached every game of that season, but particularly the eleven games that we won, with a real positive attitude and aggression in our defending and attack and that led us to get results.

"Why should we have changed that going into the final games of the season?

"We knew we didn't need to win against Chelsea. A draw would have been fine, but circumstance just went against us. We really dominated the first half, we had very little opportunities to defend and then Steven [Gerrard]... well, you just can't write that or prepare for that. He slips and Demba Ba gets the goal.

"The second half we continued to press and then, as we continued to press, we conceded a second with the last kick of the game and end up losing it. That was the game that ultimately cost us the title.

"The Crystal Palace game [3-3] only bought frustration because we were 3-0 up with ten minutes to go and only had to defend. In those games you have to be experienced enough, particularly with what we had at the back, to just see that through, but we gave away poor goals.

"We then won the last game [2-1 v Newcastle] of the season so finished runners-up. I do have a bit of regret, in terms of coming so close, but when I look at the overall season, I remember that we weren't expected to do anything and we finished in the top four.

"My only frustration is that having built the team for two years, we were looking to take the next step and win the league the next season, but we lost key players and so had to rebuild again which wasn't ideal.”

Dejected: Rodgers consoles Steven Gerrard (Image: Getty Images)

What did you say to Steven Gerrard after the slip?

“Of course we were all disappointed that we lost the game, but there are just some things you can't script. Steven , as experienced as he was at the time, that was his first real 'run-in' as a player.

"It was the first time he had really felt the pressure. He dealt fantastically well with it. He was brilliant for me during my time there. It was just unfortunate, it [the slip] could have happened to anyone. For a couple of days after you are just trying to get over the disappointment and re-focus, but we weren't playing until the following Monday.

"We got ready, and knew we had to win the next game, and we should have won it [v Palace]. But the Chelsea game will always define for me whether we were going to win the Premier League or finish runners-up.”

On Liverpool departure

After finishing runners-up, do you think the raised expectation following it contributed to your departure?

“Probably. We had set such a high standard. When I arrived at the club they were eighth. The owners made it very clear to me that they were looking to get into the top four. As a coach I felt I met that expectation. We did it in the two years of three that I was contracted and you hope that you can then build from there.

"As you do so, most teams will then go on and sign two or three players to help make sure you can win it the next time. That was the disappointment. There was the expectation, but we didn't have the same group or maybe the same quality that allowed us to get so close to the title.

"When you go so close playing the brand of football we were playing, that led us to score 101 goals, then the beginning of the following season we were really struggling with the performance, intensity and our creativity, so weren't scoring as much, it is course frustrating.

We started this season OK, despite the rebuilding. When I left we were only four points off the Champions League. There were new players adapting. We hadn't lost so many games. I think we had played 12 games in all competitions and only lost two, but I respect the owners' decision [to sack me] and now it is up to Jurgen and he will hope to make a challenge now for the title.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

When did you sense that things that were turning against you? Is it true that you really only found out after the 1-1 Merseyside draw with Everton?

“That was exactly it. I wasn't aware [I was about to lose my job] . There was a lot of speculation for about six months. All I ever tried to concentrate on was getting the best out of the team, but we perhaps weren't playing as fluidly as we had done in the previous couple of years, but we were trying to work back towards that again and it was something I felt we could get to.

"However, we played the game against Everton and after it I got a call. I wasn't aware before the game, and the derby result was a decent one away from home. We played well in the first half and I felt we should of won the game, but I accepted it.

"Of course I was disappointed by the decision but, I repeat, I respected the owners, who wanted to take the club in a different direction. I did my best and will always only have fond memories from my time at the club.”

On Luis Suarez

Were you sick of being told Luis Suarez needed replacing and would you agree that was an impossible task?

"Well it is. Luis has gone on and shown he is a world class player. In that period at Liverpool he progressed from being an international player to someone of genuine world class ability.

"He has now gone into a team that is arguably the best in the world and he has made them even better, so that shows you the level of player he is. [By selling him] You are also taking away that status and mentality by removing Luis and when you also remove Daniel, due to injury, you are losing 70-plus goals.

"If you take that away from any team they will struggle and in my third year we struggled for goals. I tried to find ways, like constantly changing the system, to find some creativity and get us scoring again. We struggled at the beginning of this season [for goals] and it is probably the aspect of the team people are still looking it.

"As a coach we are not magicians, we work with the players and look to improve them and give them every opportunity, but if you are not creating or scoring goals over a consistent period of time it is difficult for you as a coach.”

Was selling Luis Suarez your decision, a financial decision, or decided after his World Cup bite?

“It doesn't really matter why he was sold. It is all irrelevant. Luis was a great servant to the club. Everyone adored him, the players, the supporters. He has now moved on and shown that he is a top talent.”

Did you enjoy working under a transfer committee? Is that a positive means of identifying players?

“Well I think it is probably a little difficult at the moment. I didn't have any problem working under one [a transfer committee]. The club needs to look at it and decide whether they want a business model or a winning model.

"A winning model would mean trying to get the best possible players that you can, at whatever age they are, it doesn't matter. Some clubs will go into work and have that in mind. Others will think it is about buying a player, developing and improving them and then selling them on for a much grater fee, as opposed to getting the best possible player, irrelevant of his age, in order to win.

"This is the way it is going, some clubs operate with the model of football being a business and they will want to do the best they possibly can, but it will always be about getting a young player in, improving them and having a sale and value that is greater when they got them.

"Other clubs will be in the market to just buy the top talents, irrespective of what age they are, in order to look to win. I think the best clubs must get the balance between both [models].”

Piece of cake: Ayre takes care of the day-to-day running of the club (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC)

On his own future

What's next for Brendan Rodgers?

“Well I needed a bit of time out away from football, only for the fact that three-and-a-half years under such scrutiny was really intense. That time out has allowed me to recharge and give time to my family, which is very difficult when you are in football.

"After the Christmas period, I really started to watch games again, including my son who is at Swindon. Spending time with family is very important to me. I am enjoying doing some TV work and spekaing with players.

"I will go between now and the end of the season to some clubs and take in some fresh ideas and if the right opportunity comes along in the summer I would really love the opportunity to get back in the game.”

Have you had any job offers?

“I have had five opportunities since I left Liverpool to get back into work, all at clubs I really respect, but I just felt I wanted to take some time out. It is very intense when you are in the game.

"I enjoy the scrutiny, and life of being at the leading edge of the game, but that opportunity that presented itself when I left Liverpool gave me the chance to go away for the first time in five years and sit and reflect on how I work and can improve and I hope my next club will benefit from that.

"I had the same situation when I left Reading in December [2009]. I had a bit of time out, and my next club, Swansea, benefited from that and it went well, as it did at Liverpool for a period So I hope this will be the same, I will reflect and then look to get back somewhere by pre-season.”

Back in the game: Rodgers has discussed his plans to return (Image: Getty)

Do you see yourself as a Premier League manager or would you consider coaching abroad

“I am open. It is where I feel I can go in and make a difference: a job that will excite me. It doesn't have to necessarily be at a top club. It can be at home or abroad. It is just about finding the right opportunity, one that will excite me to go in and somewhere I can help make better.”

Were you not tempted to return to Swansea after Garry Monk got sacked?

“I spoke to Hugh Jenkins, the chairman, and people I know well, but I made it clear, I was pretty open, Swansea is a wonderful club, and there were also a couple of other Premier League clubs I could have gone back to, but I was open and upfront: I wasn't going to be available to come into a club before the summer.”

What have you learned from your experience Liverpool? Was managing a top club significantly different to Watford and Swansea?

“There is a difference. We are talking about Liverpool. With the greatest respect, Watford is a fantastic club, and they are going really well in the Premier League. Reading, is a club that has jumped between the Championship and Premier League, and again is a great club and Swansea was an amazing journey and they have become an established Premier League team.

"However, Liverpool are one of football's great institutions, with five European Cups. No matter what position they were in the league when I went in, they were still one of the greats of the world game, so to have that responsibility, to manage a club like that, was a great privilege, but things were different: the scrutiny and pressure, but that is just football these days.

"Whether you are Liverpool or Leicester City I think the scrutiny is there, but of course the expectation can be different.”

Jacks: Rodgers celebrates promotion at Swansea (Image: Getty)

On Steven Gerrard

Did it ever cross your mind to offer Steven Gerrard a coaching role at Liverpool instead of letting him go?

“Firstly, I want to make clear that I thoroughly enjoyed working with Steven. He is a great guy and I always admired him from the outside looking in, so to have the chance to work with him was something that I thoroughly enjoyed. He was a wonderful captain and a brilliant player.

"I think Steven got to the point in his career where of course I would have liked for him to have stayed, but he was at that age where he maybe wasn't able to play every game. I am pretty open and honest with players to tell them, and map out their games going forwards.

For him, I just think he just felt he that wanted to play. The coaching possibility wasn't something he was really looking at, in the conversations I had with him at that time: he still wanted to do his badges and do it right by putting the time into it. At the stage I was speaking to him he wanted to still play so an experience abroad for him was the best option.

High praise: Rodgers believes Gerrard is a Liverpool great (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC)

Steven was already at a big club where he was idolised, so when he was going to leave I don't think he wanted to go to Europe or the Premier League into another big club because he felt he had been at one and his hometown club, too, so the chance for him to experience something abroad [in the MLS] was something he fancied.

I think that he has gone out there [to LA Galaxy] and played every game and he has been able to experience a new lifestyle. During his two years there he will do some TV work and get his coaching badges and then focus on becoming a manager or a coach. Is he going to be a top manager? Only time will tell. You have to put the work in, but one thing is for sure he was a really top player for Liverpool and a good guy.”

Could Gerrard be Liverpool manager one day?

“Well I think that would be a dream for him. I think once he needs his badges and some experience first. You can't just walk into it. Maybe he needs to take a coach or manager role somewhere else first or a [smaller] role within the club. But certainly if he puts his mind to it, like he did as a player, then I am sure that will be something he would love to do in the future.”

On Watford and Swansea

Can Swansea stay up and can Watford quality for Europe?

"It was unfortunate that Garry [Monk] lost his job at Swansea, that's an example of the pressures of modern-day football in the Premier League. He had a wonderful season in 2014-2015 and they actually started the first four games of this season really well, but expectancy grows and they weren't getting the results so he lost his job.

"They then went through a period with Alan [Curtis] in caretaker charge, but they have now made the change. They brought in a guy with experience [Francesco Guidolin], who has settled everything and they have since had a couple of wins and a draw.

"I would expect them to stay up. They have really good players. I think they can maybe kick on between now and the end of the season. The Premier League is a better place with them in it and obviously they are the only Welsh club, too.

"Watford have been brilliant. I think if it wasn't for Leicester City they would have grabbed more headlines. Their players are hungry, they work very hard, they are very well organised and have two players up front [Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney] who cause problems for teams.

Hornets: Deeney and Ighalo have been in fine form (Image: PA)

"The Premier League is about scoring goals and I really like those two, especially Deeney. He is a real leader for them. And playing at Vicarage Road, having been the manager, I know how difficult they make it for team there. It is a smaller ground, that isn't as well known as some, but the supporters really get behind the team.

"It has been great to watch them, and having managed there I know how good a club it is and what a great area Watford is. It has been great to see them progress and obviously they are in the top 10 and I think they can stay there.

On Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 run

Just a final word on Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 qualification. How far can they go?

“I think it was an astonishing story. You have to give huge credit to the manager for going into the role and from what he probably found when he first went in, to eventually lead them to the Euros a few years later, you have to say Michael [O'Neill] has done a fantastic job.

"The players had a few lows in the campaign, but they picked themselves up and got themselves through. It is an incredible achievement, especially when you consider who hasn't qualified for Euro 2016. They are well deserving of their place and will go there with no real expectation. They will want to get out of the group if they can, but whatever happens I take great pride in seeing them there.

"I will go to the Euros and will be very proud of watching them there and I am sure with the players they have they will do very well.”